One syllable: Spurt.
spurt
/spɝt/
Spurt is pronounced spurt (/spɝt/). It has one syllable (Spurt), with the stress on "Spurt". Spurt (noun) refers to a sudden, brief stream or gush of liquid or other substance, or a rapid, short-lived outpouring of activity or growth. It conveys a forceful, instantaneous burst and is commonly used to describe a quick jet of liquid or a rapid, temporary surge in pace or growth. The term often implies both speed and intensity in a compact moment.
nounSpurt (noun) refers to a sudden, brief stream or gush of liquid or other substance, or a rapid, short-lived outpouring of activity or growth. It conveys a forceful, instantaneous burst and is commonly used to describe a quick jet of liquid or a rapid, temporary surge in pace or growth. The term often implies both speed and intensity in a compact moment.
"A sudden spurt of rain forced us to take shelter under the awning."
"Sales saw a spurt last quarter, then leveled off."
"The garden hose reacted with a spurt of water when the nozzle was opened."
Spurt is pronounced with a single stressed syllable: /spɜːrt/ in US and UK English and /spɜːt/ in Australian English. The vowel is a long, mid-central vowel with r-coloring in rhotic accents. Lips are relaxed, jaw slightly dropped, and the tongue sits mid-central with the tip near the alveolar ridge. The final /t/ is a clean, unaspirated stop in careful speech or unreleased in fast connected speech.
Common mistakes include turning it into 'spur' + 't' with a too-short vowel, or mispronouncing the /ɜː/ as a pure /ɜː/ without rhotic coloring in US speech. Some speakers replace the /ɜː/ with /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ or insert an extra schwa. Correct it by holding the mid-central lax vowel longer, ensuring the tongue stays low-mid and the lip rounding is minimal. End with a crisp /t/ rather than a softened or flapped consonant.
In US English, /spɜ˞rt/ features rhotic coloring on the central vowel with a clear /r/ before the final /t/. UK English tends to maintain /spɜːt/ with a non-rhotic vowel before a t-like ending, though some speakers add slight /ɹ/ coloring in rapid speech. Australian English generally uses /spɜːt/ with a more centralized, slightly rounded /ɜː/ vowel and a short, clean /t/. Overall rhythm is brisk in all; the main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality.
The difficulty lies in the mid-central vowel /ɜː/ combined with the final plosive /t/. Many learners flatten the vowel toward /ɜ/ or misplace the tongue, producing /spɜrt/ as /spɜt/ or /spɜːt/ without proper duration. The rapid, brief nature of the burst requires precise timing to avoid an extra vowel or a glottal stop. Practice balancing a steady central vowel with a crisp, released final /t/ for clarity.
Spurt has a simple stress pattern: the stress is on the single syllable, so there is no secondary stress. There are no silent letters. The challenge is producing the /ɜː/ vowel accurately and the final /t/ with appropriate release. In fast speech, the final /t/ can approach a tap or be unreleased; in careful speech, deliver a crisp, audible /t/ to preserve meaning.
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Spurt originates from Middle English spurten, itself deriving from Old Norse spyrta or related Germanic forms, linked to spur and spurting actions. The root idea is a push or burst of liquid or energy from a small aperture or source. Over time, the word broadened beyond liquids to describe sudden bursts of speed, activity, or growth. In early usage, spurt often described jets of water or blood; by the 19th century, metaphorical uses appeared, capturing rapid, forceful bursts in various contexts (sports, economy, and behavior). The sense of a short, energetic eruption persisted, distinguishing spurt from slower, sustained flows. The word’s semantic trajectory shows a move from tangible, physical bursts to abstract bursts of motion or change, maintaining the core connotation of suddenness and intensity.
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Help others use "Spurt" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Spurt" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Spurt" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Spurt"
-irt sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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